Combination lock



May 23, 1961 M. KAHN 2,985,005

COMBINATION LOCK Filed May 13, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 1 I l ZI/Ec-rwcu-kou Ill i i i L 1 31 F4 31/ o (D o 84 Y El 2 5 INVENTOR:

Maw/1M KQM May 23, 1961 H COMBINATION LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May13, 1960 wii // l/l/l/ INVENTOR! Maw/s XaR/n BY 01% W United StatesPatent F 2,985,005 COMBINATION LOCK Morris Kahn, 1540 41st St.,Brooklyn, N.Y.

Filed May 13, 1960, Ser. No. 28,894

11 Claims. (Cl. 70-25) My invention relates to combination locks or tolocks which can be opened only when each of a number of tumblers ismoved into a definite predetermined position whereby a person who has noknowledge of the combination of these positions or is not in possessionof a setting tool incorporating this combination is unable to open thelock.

In addition to this general object of combination locks, objects of myinvention are to facilitate the production and assemblage, to provide astructure that is compact, of small size and comprises only a smallnumber of parts, to shape these parts so that they can be inexpensivelymanufactured, to arrange these parts so that they interlock each otherinseparably in locked condition of the lock, thereby to avoid the use ofscrews, rivets or the like elements for the assemblage, and thereby tosimplify the assemblage and to make it impossible to force the lock openby removal of such elements.

Other objects are to make possible exchange of the tumblers or entiredisassemblage of the lock after it has been unlocked, thereby to makepossible change of the combination or replacement and repair of parts,and to prevent unintentional separation of the parts also in unlockedcondition.

Further objects are to facilitate the setting of the tumblers for theopening combination, to provide the lock with a wall having slots alongwhich projections of the tumblers are slidable, to make this wallseparable from the remaining lock casing whereby removal of this walluncovers the tumblers, so that they can be exchanged, to provide thiswall with projections extending into the interior of the casing, toengage these extensions by an inner shaft whereby said wall can not beseparated when said shaft is in assembled position, and thereby toprevent removal of this wall in locked condition of the lock.

Another object is to frustrate any attempt to feel out the unlockingpositions of the tumblers singly whereby unauthorized opening of thelock is made impossible.

Still further objects are to arrange the tumblers in separated channelswhereby the tumblers will not have frictional contact with each otherand movement of one tumbler will not afiect the setting of othertumblers, and to make the walls separating these channels as spacersseparately made and inserted in the lock casing whereby the manufactureof the latter is simplified.

Still other objects are to simplify the setting of the tumblers for theopening combination, for this purpose to provide a tool adapted to pushthe tumbler projections so that the latter make different steps movingeach tumbler into the position which corresponds to the predeterminedcombinations, and to make this tool adhere to the lock by magnetismwhereby the tool will maintain its position and, thereby, that of thetumblers while the lock is being opened.

Still further objects are to provide a locking member which has a partguided in the lock casing, to secure this member part in the casing by astop limiting the movement of the member, to insert this stoppermanently and ice inseparably in the casing, to enable said memberpart to bypass the stop when this part is turned into a positiondifferent from the locking position, and thereby to make possibleassemblage and disassemblage in the latter position.

Still other objects are to move the locking member automatically inopening direction when the lock is being unlocked, and to arrange ablock so that this block, when the locking member moves into openingposition, moves into a position in which this block obstructsdisassemblage of the look, but so that this block can be pushed out ofthe obstructing position when disassemblage of the lock is desired.

Still a further object is to attain these advantages with any type oflock, especially also with a lock of the padlock type.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of an exemplifying embodiment of my invention, from theappended claims and from the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an exemplifying embodiment of my inventionin locked condition.

Fig. 2 shows the same embodiment seen from the right side in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a partly sectional view of the same embodiment, thesectional represented parts being out along line 33 in Fig. 2, anuppermost part being broken ofi.

Fig. 4 shows a partly sectional view of the same embodiment, thesectionally represented parts being cut along line 4-4 in Fig. l,uppermost and lowermost parts being broken off.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section taken along line 55 in Fig. l, uppermostand lowermost parts being broken off.

Figs. 6 to 10 show perspective views of single parts of the sameembodiment,

Fig. 6 showing a cover wall,

Fig. 7 showing one of the tumbler bars,

Fig. 8 showing a spacer,

Fig. 9 showing a shaft for operation of the lock, and

Fig. 10 showing a block.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 6 is a casing which is preferablysolid except for the spaces mentioned in the following. A bore 7 extendsfrom one side of the casing. Inner channels 8 extend across the axis ofthis bore through a segment of this bores cross-section. In the shownembodiment, this segment is one half of this crosssection. Another bore9 extends from another side of the casing across the bore 7.

A shaft 11 is inserted in the bore 7 and guided therein rotatably andaxially shiftably. This shaft has an end 12 forming a disk of largerdiameter than the remaining shaft, inserted in an end of the bore 7 ofcorrespondingly larger diameter and projecting to the front and rear ofthe casing 6 whereby this disk is adapted to be used as a handle formoving the shaft. The portion 13 of the shaft 11 which crosses thechannels 8 has a cross-section of which the segment through which thechannels pass is cut away whereby, in one definite position of theshaft, the latter does not enter the channels. The portion of the shaft11 which crosses the bore 9 has a cross-section reduced to form aneccentric stem 14.

In each of the channels 8, a tumbler bar, for example the bar 15a or15b, is inserted and extends across the shaft portion 13. The channelsare longer than the bars '15 whereby each bar can slide along thechannels between the positions in which the one or the other bar endcontacts one end of the respective channel. The channels are preferablyseparated from each other by walls which form spacers 16 preventingcontact between the tumbler bars whereby the latter have no frictionalcontact with each other and movement of one bar does not tend to movethe neighboring bars. The spacers 16 are preferwith a definite positionof the projections 21.

ably not made in one piece with the casing 6, but are separately madepieces inserted in the casing. Each spacer 16 has a cut-out 17 allowingrotation of the shaft portion13.

Each tumbler bar has a recess 18 at its side facing the shaft portion13'. This recess is so shaped that it allows rotation of the shaftportion 13 into the recess when all tumbler bars are so positioned thatthe recess coincides with a sector of the segment cut away from theshaft. The position which the shaft has when it. is turned into therecesses 18 is indicated in Fig. by dotted lines which also show thecorresponding position of the recess 18. The distance of the recess 18from the ends of the respective bar is such that the bar must be shiftedover a definite predetermined way in order to bring the recess into theposition allowing rotation of the shaft. The length of this shift may bemeasured by steps. Each bar may be recessed to require a differentnumber of steps, and the step numbers of all bars form the combinationfor opening the lock.

Each tumbler bar may have. additional recesses 19 positioned at the sameside as the recess 18, .but at the step distances which do notcorrespond to the opening combination. The recesses 19 are too shallowto allow appreciable rotation of the shaft 11, but form unevennesseswhich produce the same feeling as the recess 18 when a person tries toturn the shaft without all bars being set for the correct combination.Thereby, the recesses 19 frustrate any attempt to feel out the correctpositions of the tumbler bars singly,

Except for the different positions of the recesses 18 and 19, thetumbler bars are preferably of identical shape. Each bar has aprojection 21 extending to the front of the casing through a slot 22 inthe casings Wall 23 which covers the channels 8. The slots 22 extendalong these channels and are a little narrower than the tumbler bars.

In order to make possible any desired change of the combination,additional tumbler bars adapted for diiferent steps may be kept instore. The shown embodiment has five bars and provides for 6 stepswhereby almost eight thousand difierent combinations are possible.However, the number of possible combinations may be still 7 moreincreasedby providing more bars and/or more steps.

The slotted wall 23 is preferably not an inseparable part of the casing6, but is incorporated in a cover 24 which is so countersunk into thesurface of the main body of the casing 6, that the outside of body 6 andcover 24 together form even surfaces. Preferably, the

cover 24 includes the end walls 25 of the channels and has inwardlyextending projections 26. V The casing is provided with pockets 27 forthe reception of the projections 26. The latter have holes 28 throughwhich the shaft 11 passes whereby the cover 24 is secured to the casingwhen this shaft is inserted.

The different steps or positions of the tumblers. may be indicated onthe front of the lock, for example, by numerals or other suitable marks.Fig. 1 shows such numerals 0 to 5 and lines 29 co-ordinating eachnumeral Instead or in addition, the tumblers maybe set with a plate 31which is shifted in the direction ,of the slots 22 along the surface ofthe wall 23. V

This plate may be made of a flat piece in which an opening 32 is cutout, for example, by a suitable stamping tool so that one side of thisopening forms steps 33, each crossing one of the slots 22' and havingsuch a distance from the opposite opening side that the projections 21which extend into the opening are pushed into, the positionscorresponding to the predetermined combination when the plate is shiftedin the direction of the slots 22.

Plates for diiferent combinations may be made of one type of flat pieceand with the same stamping tool which stampsout, in each operation, anarea of the width and '4 length of one step and which is operatedrepeatedly until the opening 32 is completed.

The use of the plate 31 does not require a hole in the lock as would akey. If it is desired to hold the plate temporarily in position on thecasing, this may be done by magnetism. For this purpose, one or moremagnets 34 are inserted in suitable openings of the plate 31. Thereby,the plate is made magnetic and adheres to the wall 23 which is made ofsteel or other magnetizable material.

A locking member 35 has a part 36 for engagement with a keeper and apart37 extendinginto the bore 9. In the shown embodiment, the member 35 is ashackle and has the general shape of a U of which the parts 36 and 37form the legs. In the shown locked condition of the lock, the shorterleg 36 extends into a bore 38 of the casing 6 whereby the latter acts askeeper in the manner of a.pad1ock.. At the same time, a portion 39 ofthe leg 37 extends across the shaft bore 7. The portion 39 has a recessengaged by the stem 14 when the shaft is in the shown position. When theshaft is rotated into the tumbler recesses 18, the stem 14 moves intothe position indicated in Fig. 4 by a dotted circle whereby the lockingmember is disengaged and can move in outward or unlocking direction.

This outward movement is preferably limited in the following manner: Thepart 37 has a portion 41 of reduced diameter extending between thickerportions. A pin 42 is inserted in a bore of the casing and crosses thebore 9 aside of the reduced portion 41 whereby this pin forms a stop forthe axial movement of the locking member.

Preferably, the pin 42 is permanently and ins'eparably secured in thecasing, and insertion or extraction of the member part 37 is madepossible in the following manner: The portion of the part 37 whichextends from the portion 41 farther into the bore 9 and includes theportion 39 is cut out at the side 43 which is opposite to the side onwhich the pin 42 passes the portion 41 (see Fig. 3) along a plane whichextends parallel to the axis of the part 37 and is tangential to thediameter of the reduced portion 41. Thereby this cutout side is asnarrow or has an axial distance as small as the portion 41. When themember is withdrawn from the bores 9 and 38 until the part 37 is beyondthe stem 14 and then turned about the axis of the bore 9 until the side43 faces the pin 42, the member can bypass the pin, and the member canbe extracted from the bore 9. Insertion of the member is possible byreversal of the steps of the extracting operation.

A coiled spring 44 is provided in the bore 9 farther inward than thepart 37 and urges the member 35 outward as soon as it is disengaged fromthe stem 14. The way of the movement resulting from this urge is largeenough to lift the part 36 out of the keeper bore 38.

Preferably, a block 45 is arranged between the spring 44 and the memberpart 37. This block has a tip 46 of reduced diameter for centering thespring, and has one side 47 cut away in order to let the block bypassthe pin 42 when the block is inserted in the bore 9. When the springmoves the block and the member 35 outward, the block enters the spacewhere the bores 7 and 9 cross. In this position, the block obstructsextraction of the shaft 11 from the casing and, hence, disassemblage ofthe entire lock.

The described embodiment may be assembled in the following manner:

The pin 42 is driven into a corresponding bore of the casing 6 which thepin engages firmly.

The tumbler bars and the spacers 16 are inserted in the casing. Thecover 24 'isthe'n inserted. The block 45 together with the spring 44 isdropped to the bottom of the bore 9, bypassing the pin 42. i

While the block 45 is temporarily pressed down against the urge of thespring 44 with a thin, long tool inserted in the bore 9, the shaft 11 isinserted in the bore 7 a short way sufiicient to position the shaft overthe block 45. Then, the inserted tool is removed and the tumblers areset for the opening combination whereupon the shaft is fully shiftedinto the bore 7.

Then, the part 37 of the locking member is inserted in the bore 9 whilethis member is so turned that the side 43 of its lowermost portion facesthe pin 42. When this latter portion has bypassed the pin 42, thelocking member is so turned that its part 36 is alined with the keeperbore 38. The lock is now in open, operable condition. It is locked inthe following manner:

The locking member 35 is pushed inward against the urge of the spring 44whereby the part 36 enters the keeper hole and the part 37 is positionedfor engagement by the stem 14. Then, the shaft 11 is rotated inclockwise direction, seen in Figs. 2. and 4 whereby the stem engages thecorresponding recess of the member portion 39. In this position of theshaft, the tumbler bars are shifted out of the opening setting, eitherby automatically sliding down in the channels 8 or by hand.

The lock may be opened by repeating the locking steps in reversedsequence and direction, and it may be disassembled by repeating theassembling steps in reversed sequence and direction, except that initialoutward movement of the locking member is automatically produced by thespring 44.

I desire it understood that my invention is not confined to theparticular embodiment shown and described, the same being merelyillustrative, and that my invention may be carried out in other wayswithin the scope of the appended claims without department from thespirit of my invention as it is obvious that the particular embodimentshown and described is only one of the many that may be employed toattain the objects of my invention.

Having described the nature of my invention, what I claim and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A combination lock comprising a casing having a first bore andchannels extending in said casing across a segment of said borescross-section, said casing having a second bore crossing said firstbore; a shaft inserted in said first bore and having a handle-formingend accessible from said casings outside, said shaft having a first partcrossing said channels and a second part crossing said second bore, saidfirst part having a cross-section corresponding to said segment, saidsecond part having a cross-section reduced to form an eccentric stem;tumbler bars slidable in said channels and extending through saidsegment whereby each bar obstructs rotation of said shaft, each barhaving a recess allowing rotation of said shaft into said recess whenall bars are in definite positions in which their recesses are alined; alocking member having a first part adapted to engage "a keeper and asecond part inserted in said second bore, said locking members secondpart having a portion extending across said first bore and beingrecessed to be engaged by said stem when said shaft is not rotated intothe recesses of the tumbler bars, but not engaged by said stem when saidshaft is rotated into said recesses whereby shift of said member ispossible only when all said tumbler bars are in definite positions, saidmember portion obstructing extraction of said shaft from said casingwhen said portion is not withdrawn from said first bore.

2. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing comprising aseparable part forming a wall covering said channels and having slotsextending along said channels, said tumbler bars having projectionsextending through said slots.

3. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing comprising aseparable part forming a wall covering said channels, said wall havingslots extending along said channels and having projections extendingacross said first bore, said latter projections having holes, said shaftpassing through said holes whereby said casing part can not be removedwhen said shaft is inserted in said casing.

4. A combination lock according to claim 1, said tumbler bars havingadditional recesses at the same side as said first mentioned recesses,said additional recesses being shallow whereby they do not allowappreciable rotation of said shaft, but form unevennesses frustratingany attempt to feel out the position of said first mentioned recessessingly.

5. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising removablyinserted spacers separating said channels and having recesses allowingrotation of said shaft.

6. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing having a wallcovering said channels and having slots extending along said channels,said lock further comprising a plate placed shiftably and removably onthe outside of said wall and having an opening forming steps extendingacross said slots at definite distances from the ends of said slots,said tumbler bars having projections extending through said slots intosaid opening whereby, when said plate is shifted in the direction ofsaid slots, said steps push said projections and shift said bars intodefinite positions.

7. A combination lock according to claim 1, said casing having a wallmade of magnetizable material, covering said channels and having slotsextending along said channels, said lock further comprising a plateplaced shiftably and removably on the outside of said wall, and a magnetincorporated in said plate whereby said plate adheres to said wall, saidplate having an opening forming steps extending across said slots atdefinite distances from the ends of said slots, said tumbler bars havingprojections extending through said slots into said opening whereby, whensaid plate is shifted in the direction of said slots, said steps pushsaid projections and shift said bars into definite positions.

8. A combination lock according to claim 1, said second locking memberpart having a portion of reduced diameter positioned in said secondbore, said lock further comprising a pin inserted in said casing andcrossing said second bore aside of said portion of reduced diameterwhereby said pin forms a stop against complete extraction of said secondlocking member part.

9. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising a springpositioned in said second bore and urging said second locking memberpart in axial direction whereby disengagement of said stem from saidsecond locking member part results in axial movement of the latter.

10. A combination lock according to claim 1, further comprising a blockaxially slidable in said second bore farther inward than said secondlocking member part, and a spring positioned in said second bore andurging said block and, hence, said second locking member part in axialoutward direction whereby disengagement of said stem from said secondlocking member part results in an outward movement of said secondlocking member part and in movement of said block into the space of saidsecond bore which crosses said first bore so that said block obstructsaxial extraction of saidshaft.

11. A combination lock according to claim 1, said locking member havingthe shape of a U of which said member parts form the legs, said casinghaving a third bore receiving said first locking member part wherebysaid casing acts as keeper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,686,632. Mayer Oct. 9, 1928

